The Fear Of Falling Apart

-8-

Tanith's POV

The day of the court trial approached and I wasn't nearly prepared. Brendon reassured me that he wouldn't let her take me, and I tried so hard to believe him, but a small part of me keeps going back to last time when he said the same thing. But I tried to keep an upbeat attitude anyway.

"I hate court trials!" I sing sarcastically as I near the door, Brendon and Dallon by my side. Brendon chuckles and ruffles my hair. "I know Tan, but I won't let her take you again." I give him a fake smile and hope it looks real.

We enter the building and find that most of our friends were already present in the crowd seating. Everyone except for Pete and Patrick were there, and that was only because Pete was still in hospital.

We walk past all of them, each and every single person promising me that it would be okay.

But Diane is already there on the other side of the court room. She gets up and walks over, an over the top smile on her face as she gets closer. "Tanith!"

I groan aloud. "Don't let her touch me." I beg Brendon. Before he can do anything, she's wrapped her arms around me.

She eventually pulls away and I scrunch up my nose. "Dallon. I need a Dallon hug." I state, giving her a distasteful look. "Dallon! I need a hug!" I call, not breaking eye contact.

"Don't be like that dear." Diane tuts.

"I'll be however I want to be." I growl. "You fucked up my life. I hate you!" Brendon doesn't call me out on my language.

She looks almost hurt. "We all make mistakes-"
You hit me!" I almost scream.

She opens her mouth to reply, but Dallon jumps over the barrier just in time. "Tan, you need a hug?" He asks before he spots her. "Oh. You're here too." He says in a deadpan tone.

Nobody likes Diane.

I walk over to him and he gently hugs me, leaning down a little bit. The hug ends and he offers me a small smile. "Better?" He asks.
I smile back. "Much."

The judge enters before Diane can interject, and everyone retreats to their original seats. I glance over at her, noticing a baby stroller sitting to the side of her appointed table.

The court case goes on, and I don't pay much attention honestly. I was asked questions at one point.

"Is it true that you were in Mrs Marks' custody for a number of months?" Our lawer asks. I nod my head. "Yes."

"How was life for you in this time frame?"

"Aweful. I missed my dad, my friends. She took me away from everything I knew."

"And is it also true that she assaulted  you?"

"Yes."

"Can you describe what happened?"

I sigh. "Well the court found that she had cheated and it was declared that I could go back home. So Pete drove to get me." He nods.

"She didn't want me to leave." I say, throwing a glare her way. "She hit me."

"Where did she hit you?"

"My cheek."

---

"All rise for the verdict!" Someone calls. We al do as we were told and get to our feet.

The judge clears his throat. "Tanith will remain in the custody of Mr Urie."

My face lights up with a grin and Brendon pulls me into a hug.

"But Mrs Marks will be allowed to take her out once a week for no longer then three hours." He concludes.

Everything was quiet.

"Fuck." I say, breaking the silence. Brendon doesn't even scold me for swearing.

"Do I have to?" I ask the judge.

"Unless Mrs Marks declines to take you, yes. You have to." He states.

"Nooooo." I groan as we exit the court house.

"Tanith!" Diane grins as she approaches, pushing a baby stroller.

"Dallon. Dallon pick me up. Dallon please. Maybe she won't touch me." I mutter before she reaches us. Dallon doesn't even question me, and scoops me up in his arms.

Thank you, tree man.

"I have someone I'd like you to meet." She smiles. "This is Lucas. He's your little brother."

What?

What the fuck is she talking about? I don't have a brother.

"He's my....brother?" I ask cautiously. She nods with a smile. "He turned one a few months ago." She informs me. Dallon puts me down slowly and I very cautiously peer into the baby stroller.

He has my brown eyes, that's for sure. And he was giggling as he played with a dog shaped toy. I gently reach out to touch him, and he grabs my hand.

I laugh as he stares up at me curiously.
"You can hold him if you'd like." Diane informs.

I ever so carefully pick the little guy up and hold him in my arms. "Oh my god." I breathe, emotions overcoming me.

I hate Diane with almost every fibre of my being, but I think I love this little kid. How can that be?
He's my little brother. It's gonna be my job to protect him and look after him. Oh my god. "Hey Lucas." I whisper to him.

I show him to Brendon, my face still full of shock and amazement. Brendon smiles down at my brother gently. I think he knows how I'm feeling.
I carefully place him back in the stroller.

And then Diane ruins the moment.

"We'll go out tomorrow." She smiles excitedly.

I groan audibly, all the magic of Lucas gone in an instant.

"Don't worry Tan, at least your still living with us." Frank reassures me.

"Aren't you the boy who called me?" Diane demands.

"What the fuck did you just fucking say about me, you little bitch? I'll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Navy Seals, and I've been involved in numerous secret raids on Al-Quaeda, and I have over 300 confirmed kills.
I am trained in gorilla warfare and I'm the top sniper in the entire US armed forces. You are nothing to me but just another target. I will wipe you the fuck out with precision the likes of which has never been seen before on this Earth, mark my fucking words.
You think you can get away with saying that shit to me over the Internet? Think again, fucker. As we speak I am contacting my secret network of spies across the USAand your IP is being traced right now so you better prepare for the storm, maggot. The storm that wipes out the pathetic little thing you call your life. You're fucking dead, kid. I can be anywhere, anytime, and I can kill you in over seven hundred ways, and that's just with my bare hands.
ot only am I extensively trained in unarmed combat, but I have access to the entire arsenal of the United States Marine Corps and I will use it to its full extent to wipe your miserable ass off the face of the continent, you little shit. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little "clever" comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have held your fucking tongue.
But you couldn't, you didn't, and now you're paying the price, you goddamn idiot. I will shit fury all over you and you will drown in it.
You're fucking dead, kiddo." Frank recites.

Diane looks at a loss for words, so we just walk away and leave her to be confused.

Yep this happened.

I love you guys <3